Prosecutor's in Upper Egypt's Beni Suef referred on Wednesday 230 Egyptians to the military prosecutor for violence-related charges in the aftermath of mass pro-Mohamed Morsi sit-ins which were broken up by security forces.

In August 2013, violence erupted nationwide, including in Beni Suef, after the police's bloody dispersal of two main sit-ins supporting ousted president Morsi on 14 August. Hundreds of his supporters were killed in the events, and many police stations and churches were attacked by Morsi supporters.

The defendants face charges of killing a police officer, attempted murder, torching and sabotaging public properties, storming Beni Suei governorate headquarters, and joining a banned group, in referral to the Muslim Brotherhood.

Morsi was ousted on 3 July, following three-days of mass protests, after spending almost one year in office as the first elected civilian president after the 25 January 2011 uprising.

In December 2013, Egypt's cabinet labeled the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organisation.

Since the ouster in 2013, thousands of supporters and members of the Muslim Brotherhood, including Morsi, have been arrested and are currently facing trials.